Neurontin?

[ash210544]

I went to the pain clinic today. I was trying to decrease my medications. I am only taking two, I don't remember the last time I only took two medications! I had to get off Topamax because I passed two kidney stones and that is a side effect. I didn't realize how much it actually helped me until I got off of it, because now my pain is terrible. I am on Opana ER 20 mg twice daily. I was on 30 mg of Opana ER but it was my decision to try to decrease and now that my pain is bad, he wont increase it back up. I asked the PA if I could get a higher dose of my pain med and he said NO....of course. I'm sick of being treated like I am a drug seeker. Why would I try to decrease my pain meds if I were a drug seeker? I am so upset, and I want to just ask him if he wants me to be miserable because I AM! He said that I should try Neurontin. I have tried Lyrica and it didn't help that much, so I am wondering if I should even try this. I don't want to sleep half of the day like I did when I was on a bunch of medications. This is why I didn't want to add anything else. I wish that the PA could go through a few days with my pain.....I have had to deal with it everyday for 8 years and I am sick of this! My prescription for Neurontin is 300 mg one daily then if I can tolerate that I can take two at bedtime. My pain is so severe that I bet a low dose like what he wrote isn't even going to help. Has anyone tried Neurontin and had good results??? Somedays I just feel like there is no hope! Thanks for letting me vent. :)

[dolphingirl31]

I've been on neurontin for 2yrs or more and so far nothing really. Dr's wanted to try me on lyrica but, said it was similar to neurontin so didn't want to change the meds. Wish i could sound more helpful but, i am in sorta the same place. Nothing has really helped.

[mary124]

I am on Neurontin-just started, in fact on my second week - so I am now taking 600mg at night, next week its up to 900mg. I take it at night, supposed to take it during the day as well, but I can't function at work. It really hasn't help with the pain but boy, it does let me sleep thru the night!

[snowgirl]

i take 600mg neurontin at night yes it helps. new family md wants to increase my neurontin to 600mg in am and 600 in pm. i have reservations on am dose it wil make me too sleepey
i would rather try 1200mg all at night. i told family md you cant just give me neurontiin pain clinc does that so i will have to call pain md and get his authorization. even though neurontin not narcotic i am on pain contract and highly respect that contract so left message for pain md his thoughts on this go ahead or no?
I am with you i had cut and weaned myself off so many meds ambien, vicodin and xanax and valium. so why would i ask for something stronger for b/t pain if i was not truly in pain
i even asked to detox off my ms contin he md told me no- now he has some crazy idea as he does not know ic that hydro will cure all my pain and he has done about face now wanting to wean my off ms contin in august. before he said no for two years he said no - now it is his idea.
ok but i will have pain and short opiates not good in my case two la pain meds twice a day better then 5 vicodin a day.
oh i also get ultram for b/t pain and not working what a suprise it did at first but no longer.
vicky

[snowgirl]

I went to the pain clinic today. I was trying to decrease my medications. I am only taking two, I don't remember the last time I only took two medications! I had to get off Topamax because I passed two kidney stones and that is a side effect. I didn't realize how much it actually helped me until I got off of it, because now my pain is terrible. I am on Opana ER 20 mg twice daily. I was on 30 mg of Opana ER but it was my decision to try to decrease and now that my pain is bad, he wont increase it back up. I asked the PA if I could get a higher dose of my pain med and he said NO....of course. I'm sick of being treated like I am a drug seeker. Why would I try to decrease my pain meds if I were a drug seeker? I am so upset, and I want to just ask him if he wants me to be miserable because I AM! He said that I should try Neurontin. I have tried Lyrica and it didn't help that much, so I am wondering if I should even try this. I don't want to sleep half of the day like I did when I was on a bunch of medications. This is why I didn't want to add anything else. I wish that the PA could go through a few days with my pain.....I have had to deal with it everyday for 8 years and I am sick of this! My prescription for Neurontin is 300 mg one daily then if I can tolerate that I can take two at bedtime. My pain is so severe that I bet a low dose like what he wrote isn't even going to help. Has anyone tried Neurontin and had good results??? Somedays I just feel like there is no hope! Thanks for letting me vent. :)

i may instead of going to 600mg added to am and 600mg at night go to like you 900 at night and 300 in am so i am not sleepy good idea.

[mary124]

I am now taking 900 at night, like I mentioned earlier can't take it at the low dosages of 300mg during morning and afternoon. At night though it puts me right out and I usually don't wake up till around 5:00-the only trouble I have is that during the day it does make me feel sleepy- espcially if I am not doing anything. The other day I sort of (how do you sort of do something??) fell asleep in Sunday School, my sister had to nudge me to see if I was still with them! At work if I am not busy again I will feel tired. I need to see when I go back to the doctor about adjusting this.

[snowgirl]

i called pain md told him what family md wanted to do. No pain md says
he says like mary above does 900mg at night only no going up to 1200mg
slept real good last night. lazy today.
it took the feeling of glass in my bladder is gone today gone.
so on 900mg neurontin at night yes it helps you sleep and is suppose to help anxiety as well.

[snowgirl]

2 weeks later and I cant take the increase to 900mg too much fatigue and other side effects
I am cutting my dose from 600mg down to 300mg as I want to see if the fatigue lifts a bit. I read where one pt kept getting so tired all time and it was the neurontin.

[mary124]

I finally had to go back down to 900mg as well, the doctors were trying to raise it up to 1800- never did make it pass the 1200mg (I was way too tired and I can't afford to be as I deal with numbers all day long!); besides it didn't do anything for pain - and even at 900mg I can sleep the night thru.

[snowgirl]

i have been at 600mg neurontin for 2 yrs. family md said go to 600mg twice a day. Pain md in charge of neuronint said no up to 900mg at bedtime only
I had terrible increase in fatigued. So I backed it down alright to 300mg at night instead of 600mg without md order= yes I do it all time and should not. I see pain md august 4th and will tell him.

yes my fatigue has lifted some.

[mary124]

Well, I thought it really wasn't helping the tingling sensation in my foot; but I was wrong. I too lowered it without consulting the doctor but I don't see her for awhile and its too hard to reach her or her staff!
it was helping a little with the tingling, I still had it but the sensation was down a little, since I cut back on it to 900mg it is sharper, but in away, I rather have this than be asleep at my job or even worse while driving. This morning, is the first time that I woke up refreshed and not tired so like I said I think it was worth it to go back to the lower dosage.

[snowgirl]

me too Mary. I lowered mine without md approval. My appt not till august and cant get ahold of him. I am much less fatigued on 300mg a night. I could use 600mg for the anxiety it does help that. I am one week post hydro and still no pain so hope I can stay on lower dose neurontin

I also remember I gained 12 lbs on neurontin when first started pa said yes water retention.

Glad it helps you to be more awake at work. Glad to hear you are working with IC its tough I know it but keep going.